get ready… get set… Sabbath Rest

01Jul

We landed in Panama City, were greeted by some friends of our friends in New York & Chicago, connected to the Covenant. Sally met us at the airport after customs and immigration and walked right up and said, “Hi, are you the Olson’s I’ve been reading about?”

We loaded her Land Cruiser (darn, I miss my rig from years ago), with all our huge luggage, travel guitar and backpacks with 7 weeks of gear, and drove to pick up her husband from work.

The driving here is so much fun… crazy driving takes on an entirely new meaning. I thought Boston, Mass was intense driving, but this is an entirely new compulsion of fear that I’ve experienced only a few times in my life.

Avoiding the vehicles taking rapid left u-turns from the right lane next to us, we made it to our host’s condo-style home at the 23rd floor of a sky-rise in the heart of Panama city.

We were shocked by the view, and we hadn’t seen the daylight yet.

We went to dinner with our hosts, for octopus, chicken and steak with Panamanian Guavabana fruit ice-cream cones delivered from a drive up open cabana on the corner of Calle D street.

This morning we rose to the blazing sun coming through the glass windows of the top floor of their amazing home. I grabbed a cup of Panamanian coffee, unlike anything Starbucks could ever provide… grabbed a new book Falling Upward by Richard Rohr, and began reading into rest for 2 hours before my family decided to shake off the traveling fog of the day before.

God, thank you for new beginnings, new starts to life each day, new ways to see life and gather your perspective for the journey. Thank you that you’ve invited us along to participate in all that you are doing, Father. Thank you that we don’t have control of the adventures, the plans, the relationships in this world… for if we did, we’d truly make more of a mess of things than we already do. Amen.

In light of the fantastic evening with new friends and joy in new perspective for the days ahead…

we rented a car for a week, took off to meet the Panamerican Hwy west, traverse 2 1/2 hours through the townships and villages to our destination spot for 7 weeks, and are finally learning to rest. I can’t wait to take the car back and ride the public transport back to our temporary home with Panamanian friends on the bumpy road to adventure.

We greeted the gate guard, asked for the key to our new condo home for the summer and were ushered up the the 10th floor of peaceful rest, reading, relaxation and revitalization as we listen to the voice of God together as a family.

May you come to find this rest and joy in the love of the resurrected Jesus who longs for you to sabbath with him in the love of the Father as well. get ready… get set… Sabbath Rest.

4 responses to “get ready… get set… Sabbath Rest”

Linda

July 3, 2011 at 10:14 am

If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall. Psalm 37. 23-24 CEV
I saw this post today and wanted to share. Now to listen to Him.

Beautiful Reid. I have been thinking of you and the family so much. It was awesome to hear from you through this post, know you have arrived safely and share your prayer this Sunday morning. Thank you. Above is my Facebook post today. Since we last spoke, you are on your new path. I am still grasping the reins too hard to let go. I too need to take this summer in faith and listen to God. I know He has a new path for me that will let me feel more joy and happines and serve Him better. I just can’t let go of that nagging message I grew up with to hold on to the security I have. When God is ready to move me, I sure hope I am ready and willing to hear him and move with him. Blessings to you all on your journey.

Great to hear from you bother. Glad all is well and that relaxation has begun… nothing like stepping off the merry-go-round for a couple months to re-charge your batteries. Enjoy your time with the fam, the Lord, the Word and good books. I never knew Panama City was so massive. Looks quite advanced from afar. Looks like that place just made my bucket list too.